Dinwiddie OKs budget without pay cuts

Wednesday

May 20, 2009 at 12:01 AMSep 10, 2014 at 12:04 PM

DINWIDDIE - The Board of Supervisors decided that a 3 percent pay cut for county employees wasn't needed for next year's budget.Yesterday afternoon, the board voted 4-0, with one member absent, to approve the amended $102.7 million 2009-10 budget. The b

DINWIDDIE - The Board of Supervisors decided that a 3 percent pay cut for county employees wasn't needed for next year's budget.

Yesterday afternoon, the board voted 4-0, with one member absent, to approve the amended $102.7 million 2009-10 budget. The budget is based on a new tax rate of 68 cents for every $100 of assessed real estate.

Despite the elimination of the planned pay cut, several county residents voiced concern over the study used to facilitate the cuts while acknowledging that they agreed with the board's ultimate decision. The 3 percent salary reduction would have saved the county $250,000 and would not have affected school employees.

Supervisor John Talmage cited the lack of pay cuts in other jurisdictions as a primary reason for not enacting the cuts in Dinwiddie.

Also the board voted to allocate $1.7 million to the Capital Improvements Plan specifically for the county sports complex, none of which is to be spent until further comment by the full board. The funds are anticipated to be used in the stabilization of the sports complex construction site.

The project would transform a former soybean field along U.S. Route 460 into a 175-acre sports complex centered on three softball fields and a baseball field.

Along with the baseball and softball fields, the first phase will include the creation of a pavilion, a playground and a football field that will also house the parks and recreation department. The second phase of the project will include basketball courts, additional playgrounds and pavilions, open space and tennis courts and horseshoe stakes.

Talmage said that the county needs to move ahead with the sports complex, specifically mentioning problems with drainage.

"After rain, you would need a canoe to play ball," Talmage said.

The 2009/10-2013/14 Capital Improvements Plan was also adopted unanimously.

The county will be holding a two-day workshop on economic development June 2. At this event, the funds allocated for the sports complex will be discussed and final decisions regarding their use will be made.

Also yesterday, the board awarded a contract for construction services on the Dinwiddie County Medical Center, as well as voting to recognize the week of May 17-23 as Emergency Medical Services Week in Dinwiddie County. A motion to grant Virginia Dominion Power a new right-of-way for the construction of the new Ford Fire Station was granted as well.

Virginia Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Ray Varney spoke before the board, saying that the department is losing staff and that increased turnaround time should be expected. Varney said the priorities for VDOT begin at the center line of the highway and extend out toward the shoulders, meaning that road repairs take precedent over other maintenance such as mowing.

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